Platano Picadillo Pie Food

PASTELóN

Steps:

• Prepare the plantains: Line a sheet pan with paper towels; set aside. Cut off the ends of each plantain. With the tip of a knife, score plantains lengthwise and peel off the skin. Using a serrated knife or chef's knife, cut each plantain in half lengthwise, and then halve again lengthwise so you end up with 24 long slices. (If some of the slices break or are unevenly shaped, that's OK! Carry on.)
• In a large cast-iron or heavy skillet, heat 1 cup oil over medium-high to between 350 and 375 degrees. Working with 4 to 6 slices at a time, depending on what fits, fry plantains until deep golden brown, turning halfway through, about 6 minutes total. Transfer fried plantains to the prepared sheet pan and cook remaining plantains; set aside. (Let oil cool, then strain and reserve for another use.)
• Prepare the sofrito: Put onion, bell pepper, ají dulce chiles (if using), garlic, cilantro and culantro (if using), in a food processor; blend until it becomes a rough, wet purée. (You should have about 1 cup sofrito).
• Prepare the picadillo: In a large, heavy skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium until it shimmers. Add the sofrito and cook, stirring often, until purée thickens and starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the beef and stir in the salt, pepper, cumin, paprika and oregano. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is evenly cooked and no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Turn off heat. Push meat mixture to one side, and carefully tilt skillet so that the fat from the meat collects at the bottom of the tilted pan; spoon off and discard as much of this excess fat as you can.
• Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the chopped tomatoes, wine and tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes fall apart and the liquid starts to reduce, about 10 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in olives and raisins, if using. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Picadillo can be made up to 2 days in advance. Rewarm it in a pan on the stove before proceeding with recipe.)
• Prepare the pastelón: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with butter. Whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt and set aside.
• Lay half the fried plantain slices along the bottom of the baking dish crosswise, piecing any broken pieces together to form an even layer. (If there are small gaps in the plantain layer, this is OK.) Top with half the picadillo (about 2 cups), smoothing it into an even layer, then sprinkle half the cheese on top in an even layer. Repeat with another layer of plantains then the remaining picadillo. Pour the whisked eggs evenly over the picadillo layer and spread it so it settles down into the pastelón. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
• Bake the pastelón until the egg is cooked, the cheese is melted and the layers are set, 20 to 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve hot.

PLANTAIN PICADILLO PIE WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• For Crust: Heat oil in a heavy non-stick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, add plantain slices and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Using slotted spoon, transfer slices to sheet of foil. Pat plantains with paper towels and cool Reserve 2 tbsp of oil from skillet for the filling.
• Line a 9-inch glass pie dish with a single layer of cooled plantains. Reserve remaining for garnish. Using fingers, firmly press slices together to seal any gaps. Set crust aside.
• For Filling: Heat reserved 2 tbsp of oil in large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onion is translucent, about 4 minutes. Add beef and sauté until brown, breaking into small pieces with back of fork, about 5 minutes.
• Add tomato paste, raisins, green olives, oregano, cinnamon, cumin, and allspice. Simmer stirring occasionally (about 10 minutes) until most liquid evaporates and filling is thick. Season to tasted with salt and pepper. Mix in cornmeal.
• Preheat oven to 450°F Crumble half of queso fresco over crust, then spoon in picadillo filling and press to compact. Sprinkle evenly with remaining queso fresco.
• Bake pie until cheese is melted and filling is heated through, about 25 minutes. Garnish center of pie with sliced olives and some plantain slices. Cool 10 minutes and serve.
• Note: Queso fresco, also known as queso blanco, is available at some supermarkets and Latin markets. A mild feta cheese can be substituted.

PLANTAIN PICADILLO PIE WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Heat oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, add plantain slices and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Using slotted spoon, transfer slices to sheet of foil. Pat plantains with paper towels and cool. Reserve 2 tablespoons oil from skillet for filling.
• Line 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish with single layer of cooled plantains; reserve remaining for garnish. Using fingers, firmly press slices together to seal any gaps. Set crust aside.
• For filling:
• Heat reserved 2 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onion is translucent, about 4 minutes. Add beef and sauté until brown, breaking into small pieces with back of fork, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, raisins, green olives, oregano, cinnamon, cumin, and allspice and simmer until most liquid evaporates and filling is thick, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in cornmeal.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Crumble half of queso fresco over crust, then spoon in picadillo filling and press to compact. Sprinkle evenly with remaining queso fresco. Bake pie until cheese is melted and filling is heated through, about 25 minutes. Garnish center of pie with sliced olives and some plantain slices. Cool 10 minutes and serve.
• *Queso fresco, also known as queso blanco, is available at some supermarkets and Latin markets. A mild feta cheese can be substituted.

PICADILLO AND CORN SKILLET PIE

Steps:

• Make the picadillo. Heat the oil in a well-seasoned 10- to 12-inch cast iron skillet, over medium-low heat, and saute the onion until softened and lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and spices and cook for 1 minute. Raise the heat to medium-high, add the meat and saute, breaking it up with a spoon, until it just begins to loose its red color. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Add the tomato sauce, raisins, and olives, and adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes. Stir in the almonds and set the mixture aside while you make the cornbread topping. Make the cornbread. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and butter. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined. Pour the cornbread batter over the beef mixture in the skillet and spread it out evenly with a spatula. Bake the pie until the cornbread is golden and baked through, and the beef mixture is bubbling around the edges, about 35 to 40 minutes. Set the pie aside for 5 minutes before serving.
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